Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-20
TBE sEED ISBUsTEE ~ WASHING
res TERRITORY


res TERRET0RH
ThosGhtFmI Remarks On the Raising
ana seIeetisR Of seeds ~ =
Practical Nan.
PADnLA, W. T.. March "A. 1857.
EDTTaE PosT-lNTELLToKxoKK:
What has been said about Sod grow
ing Ia your Familiar Talks" reminds
me thai promised your readers, nearly
= year sgo q contribution on that sub
ieet. Having besn engaged 10 growing
garden seeds on Puget sound for many
years, have had . chance Of learning
something Of the advantages and diesd
yantsRss ve labor under for that Bnsi-
ness, and believing u 20 Be Of interest
10 many, aud Of considerable impoF
lance TO tbs future dsvelopment Of cur
Territory. ! will endeaVoF 20 give the
Fesalta Of my experiences in this indus
try. grew my hrst Pagst SsuRd seeds
10 1873, and from that date 70 the pres
ent have RsveF doubted bat that seed
groSinR would bscome one Of the in
Oortant industries Of the future State
Of WasbingtSn. Ny speciality has been
cabbage seed, and the fact thas during
the past year. on q full market, have
sold more cabbage seed than in all the
preceding years put tsRether, proves
that, as friend Mssker says, "hsving
merit, Intelligent perseverance will win. :"
Seeds are noe like hops, oats and
other articles Of merchandise that can
be sampled, graded, and sold in the
markets according 10 their appearances.
Only the best are wanted and the most
powerful microscope fails 10 reveal ~
the buyer their true value. The grow
eF's and the Dealers name and reputa-
tisn must be depended upon to give
value 20 the seeds, IS . drawers and en-
dorseE's name gives value 10 bank
check, or note OF hand. Climate and
locality 10 which the seeds are grown is
but q part OF many important things
necessary. Selection of stock IL even
more important than climate, and while
our climate 10 very favorable for the
production OF superior seeds Of many
kinds, on ths other hand. those care
lssslY grown here, are Of q very inferisF
quality and of little or no value, and
give as $ bad reputation.
Oar Territory, being IN northern
latitude, having cool, moist climate,
west Of the Cascades. and bot, dry eli
mate on the east, possesses secular and
superior advantages for the production
Of nearly ali kinds Of seeds, and ! am
glad TO be able to add, that there are
alre d several capable. careful aAd
conscientious men engaged in seed
growing, both in Eastern and Western
Washington. Ii IL not a business TO be
taken no for year or tWo by insxper-
fenced persons, bnt those emily who feel
that they have q reputation az stalk.
asd q personal interest in the seeds
they grow aft th-y havs passed frOm
their hands, shoald engage IN il.
There are many ditsi1sities to con
tend with even where soil AID climate
are favorable. One IL the difficulty OF
obtaining pare stock seed Of the best
strains, from which 10 grow seed stock
and another IL to know how 90 m *.
proper selections of the truest aud best
stocks. from which 30 produce seeds;
another IL the difficulty Of preventing
the mixing aud crOss-fertiliz .tion OF
different varieties; asd another, the |
harvesting OF the crop 10 good order IN |
wet season. TneFs are insects 10 |
hght and. weeds so contend with, and |
nnsh hand labor TO be done in a hurry
9hen help IL scarce aud high. There |
are many other difficulties besides, any |
one of which may defeat a person who |
does not realizs what be has 10 contend |
with
Bat the greatest problem Of then all |
IL finding = market aud making sales at /
paying prices. We hsvs 70 coupete
With imported seeds. grown by cheap 1
labor and admitted nj LOG tsriI; and i
also With seeds groan on large scale,
where Improved labor saving machinery /
Is used. ito sever. It Is not Easy 10 pro-
dnee such good seeds on large scale as
eau be grown In smaller quantities. for
more Ne and attention can be be-
slowed on the feS, where. Ia the case Of
many, supervision is difiisult. II thu
former cost more pains 10 raise, they
Sill fetch more ncney 10 eem2snsate.
Had | not each year received many
very fav0vabls recommendations from
III parts Of the United states showing
Ihat my Pnget Sound grown eabbARt
SEEDS were really superior. | should long
,go have abandoned the business; bat
he Faearis Of seed seut eat have en-
outraged me 10 continue growing then.
Those Who plant the seeds AFa willing
10 pay q good price Tor che best seeds,
BAT 10 takes a great many customers 20
'etail a tor Of seeds. ana those dealers
500 are willing - paw fer the best
prefer TO have the seeds grown near
hem, where they can inspect tue seed
'iucGs and knoS tha, proper selection
has been made. Resides, thsRe ~ n
strong prejadise against SEEDS from a
1eg s0aEos and new groveFs. Still |
Eastern dealers ara beginning 10 loss
10 this country for nsny Of their seeds
We can piOdaee "a error quality Of
celery. eauith1SeF, carrots,
oeets. onions, Lettuce, rsdish. PRrsaip
PEAS, tarnip aad some Others here on
he Souad, and shat we oAnnst erov
think can he sraSn over ib
The eastern portion OF this Territory.
should be clad u all who are inter
,sted In she growtnR of seeds would
'sad me their address, ~ I Wish 10 or
sanins Seed Growers Association, for
improving our seed stocks and fiadiug .
market for our SEEDS Yours. very truly.
A. q. rILLISoaAsr.